Council approves agreements with area fire departments

Published: Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 6:10 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 6:11 p.m.

The Gadsden City Council on Tuesday approved agreements with the cities of Attalla and Rainbow City for their fire departments to use Gadsden’s new training facility near the Northeast Alabama Regional Airport.

The agreements are for $15,000 annually. Police Chief Stephen Carroll said those funds will be used for maintenance at the facility or for training equipment.

The council also approved changes in the city’s lease agreement with the Etowah County Tourism Board. The city’s contribution for renovating the board’s offices at the Mort Glosser Amphitheatre will increase from $180,000 to $220,000, and the amount paid by the board will increase from $90,000 to $110,000.

Mayor Sherman Guyton said the cost of the work was higher than the pre-bid estimate.

The council approved a resolution asking the Forrest Cemetery Foundation to provide quarterly financial reports, including an operating statement and a profit and loss statement, to the mayor and council.

Councilman Bill Stewart, who introduced the resolution that will be sent to all members of the foundation, said there are no problems with the foundation, which uses the interest from a trust to help pay for improvements to the cemetery. The interest totals about $20,000 annually.

Stewart said he was asked by a board member to introduce the resolution and that the city, which city helps maintain the cemetery, wants to know the foundation’s financial condition and its expenses and income.

He said the foundation receives about $20,000 annually in interest from the trust.

Councilman Ben Reed voted for the resolution, but said the foundation according to its bylaws already should be providing the information to the city.

The council approved the rezoning of property at 1017 Springfield Ave. from R-1 (one family residence district) to B-2 (general business district). The change was recommended by the city’s Planning Commission. The owner plans to use the lot to build office space.

Councilman Deverick Williams abstained on the vote, as the property owner is his father-in-law.

Reed said he plans a Public Safety Committee meeting to discuss police calls to private clubs or Lounge 2 licensees that can be open 24 hours a day, seven days a weeks. He said the committee will consider recommendations from the police department and council on what can be done after hours as far as security in parking lots. He said most incidents are happening after 2 a.m.

In response to a question from Councilman Robert Avery, Reed said police calls to all bars and lounges will be included in the report.

<p>The <a href="http://www.gadsdentimes.com/gadsdencouncil"><b>Gadsden City Council</b></a> on Tuesday approved agreements with the cities of Attalla and Rainbow City for their fire departments to use Gadsden's new training facility near the Northeast Alabama Regional Airport.</p><p>The agreements are for $15,000 annually. Police Chief Stephen Carroll said those funds will be used for maintenance at the facility or for training equipment.</p><p>The council also approved changes in the city's lease agreement with the Etowah County Tourism Board. The city's contribution for renovating the board's offices at the Mort Glosser Amphitheatre will increase from $180,000 to $220,000, and the amount paid by the board will increase from $90,000 to $110,000.</p><p>Mayor Sherman Guyton said the cost of the work was higher than the pre-bid estimate.</p><p>The council approved a resolution asking the Forrest Cemetery Foundation to provide quarterly financial reports, including an operating statement and a profit and loss statement, to the mayor and council.</p><p>Councilman Bill Stewart, who introduced the resolution that will be sent to all members of the foundation, said there are no problems with the foundation, which uses the interest from a trust to help pay for improvements to the cemetery. The interest totals about $20,000 annually.</p><p>Stewart said he was asked by a board member to introduce the resolution and that the city, which city helps maintain the cemetery, wants to know the foundation's financial condition and its expenses and income.</p><p>He said the foundation receives about $20,000 annually in interest from the trust.</p><p>Councilman Ben Reed voted for the resolution, but said the foundation according to its bylaws already should be providing the information to the city.</p><p>The council approved the rezoning of property at 1017 Springfield Ave. from R-1 (one family residence district) to B-2 (general business district). The change was recommended by the city's Planning Commission. The owner plans to use the lot to build office space.</p><p>Councilman Deverick Williams abstained on the vote, as the property owner is his father-in-law. </p><p>Reed said he plans a Public Safety Committee meeting to discuss police calls to private clubs or Lounge 2 licensees that can be open 24 hours a day, seven days a weeks. He said the committee will consider recommendations from the police department and council on what can be done after hours as far as security in parking lots. He said most incidents are happening after 2 a.m.</p><p>In response to a question from Councilman Robert Avery, Reed said police calls to all bars and lounges will be included in the report.</p>